My husband was offered a contract and job in Libya (we are US citz). He worked there before the revolution. Luckily his rotation ended a week before all hell broke lose. He had friends and co-workers trapped in the desert and Tripoli.
Now the same ( Libyan )company wants him to go back. He put them off until May, and he is on the short list for a couple great jobs back in the Qatar. Unfortunately those companies are taking their time in making a decision.
By the end of April he has to tell the Libyan side yes or no. I will not tell him NOT to go but I have voiced an opinion that I love him and value his safety. What a quandry!
Oddly, the most recent US Government Travel Warning is dated September 22, 2011. I am kind of surprised there hasn’t been an update.
This is a rough call.
I have known people who have worked in countries that are in the midst of war/revolution, but those I have known worked for US military/embassy and had plenty of support while they were there.
Going there to work for a local corporation is probably a different can of worms.
On the one hand, my guess is locals would be happy to see foreign investment/workers return to their country to help re-build and show things are getting back to “normal”.
On the other hand, I don’t know the danger of kidnappers or people still loyal to the regime who might want a hostage to press the US for money/political change.
I don’t envy this decision making process - and I hope there is boatloads of money to be made if he chooses to go.
Just one question - does your husband “blend in”? In other words, can he speak Arabic and not stick out like a sore thumb in the crowd (6’5" with blond hair and a US flag tattooed on his arm?). I supposed if he did blend in, it would make it easier…still, very rough call at this point.
Bump! Now he was offered a job in Iraq! As far as ‘blending in’ he speaks some Arabic, but he is an older man and they respect the white hair(for the most part).
With the Iraqi job he’ll be working for a US company…a biggy. Rotation too.